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Islands in the Sky (1952)

by Arthur C. Clarke

Other authors: See the other authors section.

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9131223,023 (3.47)30
Fiction. Science Fiction. HTML:

The technologically groundbreaking novel of space exploration from the only science fiction author nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.

Roy Malcolm has always been fascinated by space travel. And when he wins a voyage to the Inner Space Station as a game show prize, he's sure it's the trip of a lifetime. Before long, Roy is taken in by the young crewâ??and shares their adventures and lives.

One of Arthur C. Clarke's earliest novels, Islands in the Sky is particularly noteworthy for its description of geostationary communications satellites. While this technology was nonexistent during the writing of this book, it later became commonplaceâ??and Clarke is credited with the first practical descriptions of such technology. This book is compelling not just as a fictional tale, but as an example of the prescient power of Clarke's vision.

"[Clarke is] one of the truly prophetic figures of the space age." â??The New Yorker
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» See also 30 mentions

English (9)  Danish (2)  Swedish (1)  All languages (12)
Showing 1-5 of 9 (next | show all)
It is fun to read early science fiction. At least stories written in the late '50's and early '60's. They are so innocent. This book tells the story of a young man who wins a trip to stay at a space station for a couple of weeks. It is set a hundred or so years in the future. Space travel is a regular thing. Space stations are large and inhabited - regularly used. So much is fantasy in today's world, but that makes it more fun!
The only thing that is really off-putting is the lack of women in the story! No girls at the space station school. No girls in positions as navigators, or pilots, or engineers. But that's ok. We know when it was written and attitudes of the time.
I like reading science fiction like this. Optimistic and joyful.
OH! and at the end of the book, when the young man meets a family from Mars, there s reference to discoveries made in Clarke's book The Sands of Mars. That was fun! ( )
  PallanDavid | Jan 12, 2024 |
Good teenage story by Clarke. Absolutely filled with technical details as if the author had interviewed experienced astronauts. This was not possible in 1954 but a good scientist can make educated guesses. As a teen I would have given this 4 stars. As an adult it is mostly predictable and so it gets three. ( )
1 vote ikeman100 | Jan 20, 2023 |
Good, juvenile sci-fi... ( )
1 vote Razinha | May 23, 2017 |
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/2699804.html

good wholesome stuff, with boys becoming men in space: our protagonist gets to stay in the big low-orbit space station, where the entire crew appear to be English and male, and experience a few other adventures but also learn some important lessons about life and about engineering (though nothing much about other matters, the only women in space being an actor making a movie in orbit and the members of a friendly family of Mars colonists). The most striking difference for me between Clarke's 1952 future and what has actually happened is that the cost of space flight has proven to be so high that economies of scale have pushed us much more to unmanned spacecraft and also to international collaboration than he anticipated, though I am sure he approved of both developments. ( )
1 vote nwhyte | Dec 11, 2016 |
One of Clarke's earliest work was written as a young adult novel but the adventures of a boy on the space stations orbiting around the Earth are a great read for anyone who loves SF ( )
1 vote TheCrow2 | Sep 3, 2013 |
Showing 1-5 of 9 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (6 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Clarke, Arthur C.Authorprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Bink, WimCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Hartzman, ErichAuthor photosecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Heinecke, LotharTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Kolonics, GabriellaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Lehr, PaulCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Mäkinen, Hugo L.Translatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Oosterbaan, Nic.Translatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Schomburg, AlexCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Vliek, MariekeTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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It was Uncle Jim who'd said, "Whatever happens, Roy, don't worry about it. Just relax and enjoy yourself." I remembered those words as I followed the other competitors into the big studio, and I don't think I felt particularly nervous. After all, it was only a game, however badly I wanted the prize.
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Fiction. Science Fiction. HTML:

The technologically groundbreaking novel of space exploration from the only science fiction author nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.

Roy Malcolm has always been fascinated by space travel. And when he wins a voyage to the Inner Space Station as a game show prize, he's sure it's the trip of a lifetime. Before long, Roy is taken in by the young crewâ??and shares their adventures and lives.

One of Arthur C. Clarke's earliest novels, Islands in the Sky is particularly noteworthy for its description of geostationary communications satellites. While this technology was nonexistent during the writing of this book, it later became commonplaceâ??and Clarke is credited with the first practical descriptions of such technology. This book is compelling not just as a fictional tale, but as an example of the prescient power of Clarke's vision.

"[Clarke is] one of the truly prophetic figures of the space age." â??The New Yorker

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A young boy wins at a quiz show and his prize is a trip to wherever he wants…
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